24×7 power for all, a humongous but achievable feat: PwC
Unrealistic power demand forecasting, lack of information on existing power assets, inadequate planning without systematic system studies, delays in approvals and competencies of electricity utility staff are some of the roadblocks that would heavily come in the way of government’s aim to provide power 24×7, a joint study by PwC and CII pointed out. The study, released on Saturday, says achieving the objective of ‘Round- the-clock power supply’ programme will not be an easy task. But improved fuel availability scenario, achieving target capacity additions well within time or even earlier, increasing investments, and aggressive bids for renewable energy projects are some of the encouraging trends that indicate that India can achieve this humongous feat in the near future. Nevertheless, concerns related to fund availability due to poor financial condition of utilities, lack of standard specifications and utility centric tender conditions have been haunting the sector. Other key concerns are usage of non-standard bid documents, delay in bid process management, lack of programme monitoring practices and tools, absence of field quality plan and lack of implementation. On the supervision front, issues pertaining to land acquisition and right of way remains, while performance of vendors and suppliers needs to be monitored. At present the Indian power sector is facing key challenges in the form of lower output from generation units and higher losses. As of May 2016, the national average plant capacity utilisation was 62.24%, which has significant scope for improvement. According to PwC, 24×7 power for all would require generation companies to develop an integrated policy at the company level to ensure coal security in the medium and long term, and at the same time minimise its landed cost. Owners of captive coal blocks also need to expedite development and operations of projects to ensure that they are on schedule. This would require setting up of effective project management systems and appointment of capable mine developer & operator for the optimum utilisation of resources. Additionally, inter-regional transmission network needs to be strengthened to tackle persisting corridor bottleneck and congestion issues. Adoption of efficient technologies and stringent qualification is one of the prerequisites to facilitate the participation of competent players. A realistic policy for the payment of reasonable compensation to ease out the problems of right of way for transmission companies will help in avoiding cost and time overruns of transmission projects. IT and new technologies implementation systems such as smart grid projects, internet of things will significantly improve the operational efficiency of the power system. PWC claims that effective programme management of government schemes like DDUGJY, IPDS and UDAY will be key to successful implementation of projects and achievement of the ‘Power for All’ programme objective. Institutional strengthening and capacity building of utilities shall be critical in order to reap the benefits of sector reform. Programme closure assessment will be helpful in devising a better plan for any future projects. Jim Otto Womens Jersey
NTPC plans to become biggest renewable energy company in 10 years
NTPC, India’s largest electricity generator, is tweaking its expansion plan to become the biggest renewable energy company in the next 10 years. The stateowned company’s Rs 5 lakh crore capital expenditure plan will be skewed towards adding renewable energy capacity instead of setting up more thermal units. NTPC has targeted generation capacity of 128,000 megawatts by 2030 from the present level of over 47,000 MW. “Keeping the total capacity addition constant, we are recasting the expansion plan to increase the mix of renewable power capacity and reduce the share of thermal power,” a senior NTPC official said. The utility had earlier decided to set up renewable energy capacity of about 10,000 MW in the next four years. This figure is likely to be revised upwards as part of the plan to enhance renewable power generation. Its current renewable energy portfolio consists of nine solar power plants with 360 MW of capacity. “Total investment as a result is likely to be Rs 5 lakh crore. Out of the total investment, NTPC will have to shell out a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh crore as equity for the expansion plan. Rest of the funds are to be financed by long-term debt,” said the official. NTPC’s decision to reduce the share of thermal power and increase renewable energy generation is to align itself with global trends of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing clean sources of energy. India has set a renewable power deployment target of 175 GW by 2022, which includes 100 GW from solar and 60 GW from wind energy. “Over the last few years, large foreign financial institutions have drastically reduced their exposure to coal-fired projects under pressure from green lobbies. At present, procuring foreign loans for renewable energy projects is far easier than thermal power projects. A green power generation company also attracts global equity investors,” a senior analyst said. Of the 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity planned, NTPC has commissioned 250 MW and has started work on developing 3,010 MW of projects. It also plans to set up about 800 MW of solar plants on water reservoirs at thermal power plants. Erik Walden Jersey
Mohali to get five new power grids of 66 KV capacity
To overcome the problem of power shortage in Mohali, five new grids of 66 KV capacity will be set up within the next one year. As many as 200 transformers will also be replaced in the district for uninterrupted power supply to the farmers and in rural areas. The power overhaul will be done under the Progressive Power Development and Modification Programme. Under the project, 30km power distribution lines will be made underground in the city and the work in the direction will also be completed withing six months. The officials of the power department said the central government has approved grants for power rejuvenation and development works in urban areas under Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) wherein Rs 40 crore has been approved for Mohali district and Rs 10 crore for Roop Nagar and Nawa Shehar districts each. With the setting up of the new power grids, the city will get the uninterrupted power supply and the problem of long power cuts can also be solved. At present, the district has a demand of around 60,000 units per day, while the supply is around 36,000 units. The officials said with the reforms in the power sector the gap between demand and supply will reduce in the next two years. Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra also said the grant has been issued for the power reforms and he will oversee the work. Jason Taylor Womens Jersey
Defaulters not eligible for new power connections: HC
The KSEB cannot be asked to provide a new connection to a customer if dues from an earlier connection remains unsettled for the very same premises, the Kerala high court has held. The decision by Justice AM Shaffique was after considering a petition (WP-C 30150/2013) filed by Kochumon Shamsudeen of Kayamkulam. An anti-power-theft squad (APTS) had imposed a penalty of Rs 3.79 lakh on the petitioner for unauthorized use of 7,254 watts of energy. During the inspection, it was allegedly found the petitioner, who had a power connection, had extended it to another new building. According to KSEB, it was understood during further verification that a new building was constructed in the premises where an old building existed, which had a consumer number. Cases were filed against arrears of current charges but were dismissed. The consumer number was thereafter dismantled. The extension that was being illegally used was given to the building constructed in the premises where the old consumer number existed. As the petitioner declined to deposit 50 per cent of the penalty, an appellate authority had confirmed the order on January 17, 2014. At the high court, the petitioner argued that he had been requesting a new connection to the new building all along. He sought a court directive to KSEB to provide a new connection. KSEB opposed this argument and informed the court that once there is a liability to be discharged, there is no question of giving any further power connection to the new building constructed in the very same premises. Ruling in favour of KSEB, the court held, “As far as the claim for regularisation of the power connection to the premises where an earlier Consumer No.4216 existed, as indicated by the respondents, if there is a liability in respect of the said premises, the board cannot be called upon to provide a new connection, unless the liability is settled. Under such circumstances, it is not possible for this Court to issue any direction as sought for by the petitioner.” If the petitioner is willing to settle the entire liability related to the earlier connection, KSEB can take appropriate action, the court said. Dede Westbrook Womens Jersey
CM asks officials to ensure uninterrupted power
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday directed officials of the energy department to ensure that there are no power cuts, whatever the situation is even during summers across the state. Chairing a review meeting with Minister D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah admitted that the power situation was grim because of water scarcity in the state due to lack of rainfall and water storage in the dams. He directed officials of all electricity supply companies (Escoms), Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) officials to prepare medium and long term plans to ensure sufficient power for summer. Siddaramaiah assured citizens that 24-hour power supply to Bengaluru and seven hours power supply to farmers will continue even in summers. Shivakumar pointed out that many sugarcane industries were eager to generate and supply power to the grid. If this materialises, then there were will an additional supply of 800-900 MW to the grid every day. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) was immediately directed to fix the rate to purchase power after discussing with industries. Shivakumar added that since hydel resources were adversely affected, thrust was being laid on solar generation and by December 2016, 500 MW solar power will also be added. Plans were also being made to purchase power from other sources to ensure that there is no gap in the demand and supply. D K Shivakumar, Energy Minister: Many sugarcane industries were eager to generate and supply power to the grid. If this materialises, then there were will an additional supply of 800-900 MW to the grid every day. Vladimir Ducasse Jersey
Clarification sought from UP discom on electrification of Nagla Fatela village
Rural Electrification Corporation on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to an Uttar Pradesh power distribution utility seeking clarification on status of Nagla Fatela village that was announced as electrified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech. The corporation has sought clarification from Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL) on media reports that said no power connections have been given to households, though the village has been certified as electrified by the utility in October 2015. The notice has also sought explanation on media reports that quoted chief engineer VS Gangwar as saying that the village was electrified many years ago, but only through “katia” connections. “You may also clarify, why, if the infrastructure work had been completed and certified on October 30, as reported by DVVNL, no connection have so far been released to households, including BPL households and the infrastructure remained underutilised after spending public money, including GOI grant. In case your reply is not received within three days, action as deemed appropriate will be initiated,” the notice said. Power, coal, renewable energy and mines minister Piyush Goyal said that Uttar Pradesh has been asking for additional funds while not been able to utilise the existing ones. DaeSean Hamilton Authentic Jersey
Hydro Capacity Addition During Last Two Years
Nine Hydro Electric Projects, with a total capacity of 2357 MW, were commissioned during the last two years, and the current year, till 31.07.2016, in various states of the country. Out of these 9 projects, three projects were partially commissioned during this period. This was stated by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines,said. Further, the Minister stated that as on 30.6.2016 the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 15 Hydro Electric schemes with a total Installed Capacity of 8,457 MW have been received by various appraising Groups in CEA/CWC/GSI/CSMRS for examination.The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is reviewing these projects regularly with various appraising agencies and project developers for expeditious appraisal of DPRs. Eric Gryba Womens Jersey
Power department initiates checks on theft
Noida power department has initiated an exercise to assess increased power theft in villages by way of keeping track of power units used per feeder in villages across Gautam Budh Nagar. All junior engineers and sub-divisional officers are instructed to book any lineman or junior staff found indulging in, or helping in such power theft. According to Mukul Singhal, superintending engineer, PVVNL the grey area in Gautam Budh Nagar amounts to increased power theft and line losses of up to 18-19%. Mostly these occur in rural areas or villages across Noida. “The power theft across Noida and G B Nagar currently amounts to 18% -19% which is a grey area for us. That’s because it usually occurs in villages across Noida or rural areas of G B Nagar where unauthorised connections are found where meters are fiddled with, or cable drawn directly from the main line occurs. And we get to know about this when AC, fridge and other electronic appliances are used in these area/homes, yet the bills do not account for, or reflect their usage,” Singhal told TOI. To check such power thefts, Singhal has directed all junior engineers (JEs) and sub-divisional officers (SDOs) to keep a tab on the power units fed into the feeder that supplies power to any village or rural area. “We have initiated the process of keeping a tab on power units fed per feeder per village/rural area and the number of units used or consumed further from that feeder by the consumer of the area. The balance derived will account for the power theft occurring in the area,” said Singhal, who adds that usually the lineman and junior staff of such areas are hand-in-glove in such thefts and will be dealt with strictly once identified. “I’ve given strict instructions to all SDOs to keep a check on all feeders installed per village and maintain a log of energy consumed. Any anomaly by either a lineman or a consumer will be dealt with strictly to the tune of even a legal action if found guilty of theft,” said Singhal. Tahir Whitehead Womens Jersey
Independent power producers cry foul
Himachal’s independent power producers (IPPs) have sought intervention of the state and Central governments to treat small hydropower projects as “white category projects”, exempting them from the time- consuming clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and the state pollution board. There are more than 100 IPPs that have suffered huge losses as they spent large amounts but achieved zero results as the projects did not get forest clearances. “If small hydropower projects are treated as ‘white category projects’, this will help them get soft bank loans and help tap the state’s power potential,” they added. The IPPs resented that the state revenue share from hydropower has come down to 11.37 per cent in 2015-16 from 39.56 per cent in 2007-08 due to delays in execution of power projects in the state. Hailing the state government’s proposed changes in the hydropower policy, 2006, the Bonafide Himachal Power Producers Association has urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Union Power Minister Piyush Goel to treat the small hydropower projects (less than 25-MW capacity) as “white category power projects” and exempt these from forest clearances from MoEF and certificate from the state pollution control board. Apart from putting single window clearance in place, the procedure to monitor the 15 per cent water discharge in the river should be simplified as it is adding to the cost of the project, said Rajesh Sharma, president of the Association, and members Brij Mohan, Manish Sharma and Sansar Chand after their meeting with the officials of the Directorate of Energy and Himurja. They want the Centre to allow developers to raise forest on 40 per cent of waste or barren forest land under compensatory afforestation, not on the non-forest land, which is not available in the state. They have also urged the NITI Aayog to direct the MoEF to pay heed to the problems faced by the IPPs in the state. “The MoEF is asking us to acquire 17-m width forest or private land corridor for the laying of transmission line whereas it is objecting to plant forest on the barren forest land, which is self-contradictory,” Sharma said. They demanded that the state regulator should decide the power tariff on small hydropower projects on the pre-subsidised cost of the project. Paul Byron Authentic Jersey
Rampal coal plant: Indian coal dream fast becoming a nightmare for Bangladesh
Last month’s signing of the contract to build the Rampal coal plant in Bangladesh, just a few miles from the edge of the world’s largest mangrove forest, has re-triggered concerns both domestically and internationally about the controversial 1320 megawatt power project. Late July saw clashes in the streets of Dhaka between demonstrators intent on taking their demands to scrap the Rampal project direct to the office of Bangladesh’s prime minister and police deploying batons and tear gas canisters. Local media reported the arrest of six protestors and the hospitalisation of 16 other participants as a result of the police operation, which prevented the ‘Save Sundarbans’ demonstration from reaching its planned destination. Eyewitness accounts put the number of injured participants as high as 50. Indian groups who also reject the project (see a new video presenting joint Bangladeshi-Indian civil society resistance to Rampal) condemned what they described as the use of “brute force” by the police against a “peaceful protest march”, and issued a statement of solidarity which further called on the Bangladesh government to “stop using all undemocratic means to deal with legitimate people’s protests.” Just two weeks prior, however, the official ‘mood music’ emanating from a Dhaka hotel about the project might as well have come from another planet. At a ceremony to mark the signing of the engineering, procurement and construction contract awarded to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), India’s largest engineering and manufacturing company, Ujjwal Kanti Bhattacharya, managing director of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), the joint venture company undertaking the Rampal plant, commented to journalists that “We respect the concern of the people of Bangladesh, we are set to maintain the maximum environmental standards for the plant”. As tends to be the hallmark of such moments in the laboured development of controversial fossil fuel projects such as Rampal, the assembled officials had come to gush. With co-operation between Bangladesh and India being flagged relentlessly, the principal secretary to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina let it be known that Rampal has been ‘a dream project’ of the two countries’ leaders, and promised “all sorts of cooperation will be provided to [BHEL] except time extension.” BHEL now has until July 2019 to have the power plant installed and ready for operations. Scrutiny of the construction contract does indeed suggest that the Indian giant BHEL is on the receiving end of an awful lot of ‘co-operation’. Yet when viewed alongside other emerging project details that are now raining down as part of the official PR monsoon, it’s becoming ever more apparent that if Rampal is a ‘dream project’ for India, then as currently conceived it stands to become a nightmare for Bangladesh. ‘Sweeteners’ BHEL won the tender for the $1.49 billion construction contract at the beginning of this year but the official signing of the deal dragged on to July due to, as local media sources have pointed out, the company holding out for “extra sweeteners” from the Bangladesh government including exemptions from taxes and duties as well as from the mandatory insurance process. In what could be a worrying precedent for Bangladesh’s state coffers when the involvement of Indian companies is sought for major infrastructure projects, it’s also been reported that it took a personal intervention from Prime Minister Sheikk Hasina in April to settle the tax waiver in BHEL’s favour. Meanwhile, in another clear sign that Delhi is running the Rampal show and putting Indian interests first, negotiations are reportedly under way between the project promoters and Coal India on the supply of 4 million tonnes of Indian coal per year to fuel the plant. If this materialises, then it would undermine some of the baseline calculations – on emissions and pollution – included in the project’s already highly questionable environmental impact assessment (EIA), in which scenarios have been based on coal supplies originating from Australia, Indonesia or South Africa. Indian coal is generally reckoned to be of a lower grade than coal from the other countries referred to in the EIA, but the potential impacts remain vague since precise details on sulphur and ash content are unknown. The mounting coal glut in India may, however, have an even bigger long-term outlet near the Sundarbans – as the controversy over the currently proposed plant rages, an often overlooked detail in the EIA is the alarming proposal to build a second 1320 megawatt coal plant adjacent to the first “in the future”. Some state (of the art) Yet, insist Rampal proponents, the coal plant will involve the world’s most efficient and environment-friendly technology. ‘Modern ultra-Super Thermal Technology’ is touted by BIFPCL, but the company’s construction tender document does not require state of the art pollution control technologies. For example, the technology required at Rampal will emit nearly 30% more sulphur dioxide than truly state of the art technology. Similarly, the outdated technology required at the proposed coal plant can remove roughly 96% of fine particulate matter, but state of the art technology can remove 99%. Three percent might not seem like a lot, but when it comes to extremely toxic, long-lasting and widely dispersing heavy metals such as mercury emitted over the 60 year life of a coal plant, it matters. Shockingly too there are no technologies required at Rampal to specifically eliminate harmful emissions of mercury, nitrogen oxides, nickel, chromium, arsenic, antimony, cadmium or cobalt, though widely available technologies exist to do so. Finally, toxic unburned coal particles from the massive coal piles and transfer points will enter the Passur River and Sundarbans ecosystem on a daily basis, as the tender documents require only ineffective water sprays on coal piles, and optional enclosure of stockpiles and transfer points. And of the many question marks still hanging over the project’s EIA considerations – including air pollution, direct impacts on water resources including heavy coal transportation traffic through the network of sensitive Sundarbans waterways and cumulative ecosystem impacts – poor planning for the disposal of 0.94 million tons of toxic coal ash per year is just one